Roller and harrow implement



1952 H. R. MOVICAR ROLLER AND HARROW IMPLEMENT 2 SHEETSSHEET 1 FiledNOV. 28, 1945 Aug. 19, 1952 H. R. Movlc R ROLLER AND HARROW IMPLEMENT 2SHEETS-SHEET 2 Filed Nov. 28, 1945 W. m m 7 H Patented Aug. 19, 1952ROLLER:ANDIHARROWIMPLEMENTQ;

Harold Rl'McVicar, Berea, hio-- Ap l cation November 28, 1945,-'Se'ria1No; 631%,309 (01. 55,-1 2) 4 Claims.

. This invention.:relatesato:iagricuitural; tillage and cultivatingimplements'sof.:thegeneral .cla'ssr: comprising bothrollerelementsianditoothed eleie ments, to work the soil "whenirpropelled:theree. over.-

In one type of -such implements; one .onmore gangs of roller element'sare provided,;..and:each: gang comprises a-pluralitygofz discs. and.each. disc has a periphery: of Veshape in: cross section; and allaremounted to rotaterindependentlyiof each other on J a gang; shafti and:to .:roll:;..upon:-t the'ground to support the implementzas a whole, andto performa well known soil workingio'pere ation; and 'one or more'g'angs: of.-;soil.L-working teeth are provided for penetrating andplowing: or harrowing the soil? and it: iszto a-thispigeneral type ofimplement that the inventionrmore pare: ticularly relates. I

In suchimplements; various::mechanismsshave; been proposed to lower: the:teeth togprojectithem; into thesoili to working-position, andtOIIELiSBL them out :of the soil-for transportationocfethe.. implementto and from-a field-or :to: make sturns; atthe end of a field.:andto-regulat or adjust; the depth atwhich the teeth work the soil.':.

Such prior mechanisms however have beenzobajectionable for-variousreasons, amongwhichzare that attention and: caremust besexercised..-:to; set the teeth to the desired deptheachltime they arelowered after bei-ng raised- -and thati'they; are not adapted tobelowered and raised. or ad.; justedas '-to *workingadpth byr.power from;:an:- implement propellingitracton It is accordingly the primaryobjectofsthisine. vention to provide an'-implement of=ithis.aclass inwhich-these objections to prior implements; have been overcome V Otherobjects will become apparent; .toirthose skilled in the artto which' the:inventioniape pertains. 1 I

' The invention is fully: disclosed in :the follow! ing descriptiontaken' imconnection Withlthe accompanying drawing, in which Fig. 1 "is a-to'p p1an view- --ofan agricultural. implement embodying the'inventiomwithfiparts broken :away and parts-in section 1 Fig. 2 is aside: elevational- ;view;:of.- the; imple,- ment of Fig.:1.with partsbroken away andparts. in 5 section, andijshowing l;diagrammatically,partof atractor connecte.d:;thereto-;;, V I

-.Fig.s 3 is a.,view qnerally ssimilar f to -Fi g. ,,2 but with parts indifierent-bperative positions i -.51 is a fragmentaryplview partlyinsection, taken in the direction ,of. mesnww gof. -Fig 1 and Fig. 5 isa view similar to Fig. 3 loutillustrating an:altemativestructure andmodeof-, operation which'may'be utilized:

Referring to the drawing, there is showniat l aimain :or.;primary; framecomprising side elements: 2-2, and; frontand; rearxend elements 3 and.14; which :mamconveniently ybe made from angle. section-steel:asgindicatedg The frame-as shown is -;rectangular.and:the end ;and sideelements: are; joined .together: at the; corners.

7 Means; for. joining :thewlements has .rl'iOt-xbGGH;

shownrsinasmuchias'; it is :not: an essential-Dart of :theinvention-:rand.suchfitructures being .well understood bycthose.skilledinthe art.

- At. the-rear portion .Ofrithe. frame-l vista transverse.;:shaft 5@mounted atcits opposite: ends in supports; 6+6 secured the side members2-2 of. themain frame. Rotatably mounted? 0n; the shaft 5 is a series organg of idiscs-:1-=-1, the peripheries ofwhichare 1V -shape in crosssection as. shown; and thediscsmay rotate-independently of; eachrothenon; the shaft-15;

Inrtheforwardizpart ofi-rthdzframe .l issa similar. shafrrB Jand .azgangof .simi1ar; discs;;9-,9 thereon, the. 1 shaftbeingmonnted iny supportslt l 0 on the maimframa: I

Such discs and: gangs :OfidiSQS: are well known inithis art.Theyirfunctionaasfrollers or-wheels, supportingzthe {main frame l asit-ispropelled along ;the..= soil, andrthegperipheries of :the discsperform: a well ,:known: soil: working 1 operation asthey .rollialongrAt. 'thetrforwardipart of; the main :frame I and at. opposite; sides:thereof: is a pair of arms l'--l I extending eupwardly: therefromand;carrying at their :ends;-' sleeve bearingsuiil 2l 2; .jhaving pivot pinsl3-l3 extending therethrough; providing a transverserhorizontaLhing-ingiaxis; and ;upon the pins: is .pivotallyorrhingingly: mounted :a supplernental: frame shown .rgenerallyz atr'lie This supplementalx; frame comprisesv. sideig elements I 5+! 5 and-ca,rearwardctransversaelement l 6,"

- which "elements; may conveniently be made; from angle section steel asindicated, jo,i-ned.stogether in:;any: suitable .manner :well known in;the art. The; ,forward 'gendsiof the side elements l 5'I 5 have mountedathereon- L -.-shaped shearing ele ments 1-41,: provided; with 1sleevebearings l 8-! 8 rotatably mounted-.onthesaid pins"! 3-I -l 3,.whereby-the. forward .end. of. the supplemental frame. ishirigingly,supported, Adjacent to the. rearward end of the supplemental I frame J4, it restsuponfl a transverse. angle section" element l9 extendingtransverselyof the-main frame and secured at its opposite ends to theside members 2-'=-.2 thereof,- and upon which the rea'r end of thesupplementalfr'ame 'l 4 is normally supported.

Preferably the supplemental frame 14 is in general horizontally parallelto the main frame I as shown in the drawing.

A pair of transverse shafts 20 and 2| extend across the supplementalframe l4 being secured at their opposite ends to depending brackets22-22 and 23-23 secured to the side elements of the supplemental frame,and the shafts 29 and 2! are non-rotatively secured in the saidbrackets. I

Attached to the shaft 20 is a plurality of transversely spaced teeth24-24; and secured to the shaft 2| is a similar set of transverselyspaced teeth 25-25; the forward teeth 24 being staggered with respect tothe rearward teeth 25.

In the form of the invention illustrated in the drawing, these teeth areof the well known spring tooth type, having end portions 26-26 as shownin Fig. 2 for penetrating and working the soil, and coiled resilientportions thereabove, the ends of which are rigidly, non-rotatively,secured to the shafts 2| and 22 in a well known manner.

' In prior implements of this general class in which spring teeth ofthis type have been employed, the shafts (corresponding to the shafts 2|and 20) to which the teeth are attached, have been mounted to berotatable, whereby upon rotation thereof the ground engaging portions(corresponding to the portions 26-26) may be elevated out of thegroundor projected into it; but in the present invention the springteeth 24 and 25 are rigidly attached to their shafts and 2i and theshafts themselves are rigidly or non-rotatively attached to theirsupporting brackets 22 and 23, so that the teeth are fixed in relativepositions with respect to the supplemental frame l4. V

The full advantagesof the invention are best developed when the teethare inclined downwardly forwardly as shown for the soil penetratingportions 26 of the teeth, so that as the implement is drawn forwardlythe teeth are thereby drawn downwardly into the soil by an actiongenerally referred to in this art as suction.

The main frame I has a tractor hitch shown generally at 21 extendingforwardly from. the forward member 3 of the frame; and it may comprise amain draw bar element 28, connected to the frame elements 3, and bracedby diagonal braces 29-29, connected to it and to the main frame; and inits forward portion may comprise as shown in Fig. l, a kingpinconnection hole 30. In Fig. 2, the king pin is shown at 3| projectedthrough a suitable king pin hole in the draw bar 32 of a tractor.

The tractor is shown in Fig. 2, diagrammatically, as comprising maindrive wheels 33, a rear axle housing and main frame 34, a rear axle 35;and the draw bar 32 is connected to the tractor by the usual structurenot shown, whereby the implement may be propelled forwardly by thetractor.

Agricultural tractors are well known comprising besides the main forwarddraft element or draw bar 32, an auxiliary power device for actuatingparts of the implement being drawn by the tractor. One well known typecomprises an arm or arms which may be rocked forwardly by the tractorpower, and free to be retracted or rocked rearwardly when the power isreleased therefrom, and a tractor of this type has been illustrateddiagrammatically. At 36 is illustrated a transverse shaft-on which is anarmor arms 31; and the auxiliary power when applied 75 mal workingposition of liig. A

4 thereto rotates the shaft 36 to rock the arm 3'! clockwise With theshaft.

Such tractors being well known, it is not deemed necessary to furtherillustrate or describe the auxiliary power arrangement here referred to.It is to be noted however that in the well known type of mechanism herereferred to, clockwise rocking of the arm 31 is communicated togenerally horizontal rearwardly extending frame members pivoted onthe'tractor and the frame members may be used to exert an upward liftingforce on an implement; and the mechanism is therefore sometimesdesignated as a power lift" 'mechanism; butas utilized by applicant andas illustrated, the said frame members are omitted and the clockwiserocking of the arm 31 is used to exert a forward rectilinear auxiliarydraft, to be described.

At 38 is illustrated fragmentarily part of the operator's seat of thetractor.

Secured to and extending upwardly from each of the aforesaid elementslI-ll, are posts 39-39 which may conveniently be of angle section steel,and they are braced by braces 40 between the posts and the side elements[5 of the supplemental frame; and they are connected togethertransversely at the top by a bridging bar 4|, which may conveniently beof angle section steel secured to the top of the posts. A perforation 42is provided in one of the flanges of the angle section bar Al, and arope, chain, or cable 43 is linked through the perforation and forwardlythereof is pivotally connectedat44 by a link 45 to the aforesaidauxiliary. power arm 31 of the tractor. 1 a 1:];

During the forward propulsion of the implement by the tractor asdescribed, the aforementioned suction of the teeth 24 and 25 in thesoil, maintains them at a working depth in the soil, and they work thesoil in a well known manner; and the suction, exertingdownward thrust onthe supplemental frame 14, holds it rocked in the counterclockwisedirection as viewed in Fig. 2, and engaged; with and supported by thetransverse, bar 19 atits rearward portion. g I

As hereinbefore mentioned, itis desirable or necessary in making turnsat the end of a field being worked or during transportation of theimplement to and fromsthefield, to withdraw the teeth 24 and 25 out ofthe soil, and this is done by rocking the supplemental frame '14clockwise around its pivot-pins l3-I3 by means of the auxiliary power ofthe tractor.

When the auxiliary power is turned on, the arm 31 on the tractor rocksclockwise as viewed in Fig. 2 and exerts forward draft on the cable 43,thereby exerting force or torque on the supplemental frame, and it isrocked thereby, elevating all parts rearwardly of the pivot pins [3,and, for. example, it may be rocked to an extreme position illustratedin Fig.; 3.

If desired, the auxiliary draftimay be maintained applied to the arm 31to ihold the-supplemental frame vI 4 in its elevation position, with theends 26-26ofjthe teethabove-the ground level, indicated at .48. Whenitris-again desired to project the teeth intozthe soiLiiandlat suchtime, the auxiliary draft is released-and J the weight of thesupplementafframe -l4'wi1l 'returnv it downwardly counterclockwise; andthe teeth ends 26-26 will again engage thefsoil and bytheir'said'suction'draw 1them into the soil until the supplemental frameis again in its n0rploysuch means because itfunctions also-to'adjust thelworking depth of the teeth--in-'the soil; and i thislwilljnowrbedescribed;

Pivotallysupported at approximately-the center of the transverse "bar19ioftthemainframe;is f a latch device lt "extending"upwardlyitherefromand provided with a series of teeth 48. In' its upper. endjisi aperforationi lfi in'whichone end" of. a, tension spring So lshookedfith'e other endofi'lthe gspring being connected fat 5 l' 1 to therear member. 4 f of the, mainframe-Abe "SDIiIlCOI1-' stantl-yl exertingtorque' on" the latchf 41 tending to l rotate; it inf." thecounterclockwisedirection. The teeth 48 are'dispose'd forwardlyjof-the'edge; 52 "of the rear -channel sectiommemberfl B of-the supplemental.frame.

When the supplemental frame is raised by auxiliary tractor power as 7}described, 3 its L edge 52 jratchets overtheteeth "48pf'the-latch. Whenthe edge 5T4has movedupWardly-toengage--one 5 ii employed 0 of.' theuppermost teeth of: the-latch, the a'uxiliary tractor'power may"bebdiscontinued and released, and the supplemental. frame'will 're-'mainlinielevated position being supportedat its rearward end by the"latch:

To" 1 return the teeth into. "the 'soil', the latch maybe wtrilflped by"rocking it clockwise and to this ,end, a rope, chain; or cable 53,"(Fig. 2) is securedat one end'iin the perforation 49 -andextendslforwardly to and is attached toa com A venient point on thetractor :easily accessible to an operator on the seat 38;- forexample'it may be projected through one 10f the perforations commonlyprovided-irr such seats and knotted' therein; The Toperatorby graspingthe cable 53 l andlpulling forwardly ton "it; releases-the latch,and-thev supplemental frame l 4 drops-by ravity to its normalWorkingposition; the-pull 'on the cable l3,r,eifected thereby, returningthearm- 31V to its normal released :positionz" z Y To adjust. thelworkingdepth'oftheteethE'in the soil, the operatonoperates"theauxiliary tractor power mechanism to rock 'th'e' supple mental 1 frame s14, thereby ratcheting the edge 52' overtlie teeth 48,*'to anyiselectedintermediatetoothion the latch, ,.and. then releases the auxiliarypower, and the supplemental frame l4 will remain in that position being:supported by the latch as described.

Thus at any time the teeth maybe loweredto their maximum working depth}or-rraised andlatched at aylesseri'depth,gor elevated entirely out of.the ground, and again lowered to full depth or adjusted to a lesserdepth, all by the power of the tractor and actuatediandcontrolledb'y-fthe operator, and withoutxleaving ,the? seat ofthetractor; and these operations may'be'performed by him while theimplement is being propelled forwardly.

The soil being worked with an implement of this class is often coveredwith trash; and the trash collects in front of the teeth. In the presentimplement the teeth can be cleared of trash without inconvenience bysimply raising them out of the ground, and lowering them again toworking position as described.

While I have illustrated and described teeth of the spring-tooth type,the invention may be practiced with other types of teeth attached in anysuitable manner to the shafts 20 and 2|; and preferably set at an angleto be drawn into the soil by suction as referred to and instead ofseparate teeth rigidly attached to the shafts s. 6- I 2 fl-and {2 If;wheel-mobs having --radia'"l teeth and rotatably mounted on' th'e-'shafts --2 0 and 2 l m-ay befen'lploi'njd;: Also inste'ad ofactuakteethy soil I working-tools t thed-i'shed disc typeg commonly alsehmows mawbe rotatably mounted-on the-shafts 20 an'd 2 f and'preferablyset at an -angle toexert the suction referred to; in.-'their-well='iknown mannerot"operating;

Also while I-' have I showri lroller typen tools .1 and of thety'pehaving v'eshaped peripheries;- other: known orsuitable types-imaybe utilized;

- While I'h'aveshowmand describedtwo gangszof rollerelements-anditwo:gangs' of tooth-elements; it is believed:tobeapparentwithout further illus-' tration or :description' that ione-t= 02213118other 10f" the gangs :of .rollerirelements maybe;:omitted,:.in;:. whichcase the attachmentpfrthe forward :part'; of; the main:frame:to,;the2traotor drawzbar would reliably maintainthemainframe-generallyihoria zontal: as i-ishown;iand 1;that.'ceithenxof'jthe;:gangs of: tootheelementsz; could: likewiseia be omitted whereby: asimpler andzzcheaperfimplementi:eme bodyingrthe invention. may be hadwhen wanted;

1 Also,; if; :desiredp. the forward shaft: 20 ;.andt;its';; gang:ofntools =may be.aldcatedtfarthensforwardli and: the forward "shaft;-8;-'iand:;its: gangiotiroller: elements nnay. ;-be. located'justrforwardly; ofiitheo. rear'gangliof tOOlSiOIlIIthGlShaft 2|; a

It :is. believed that those skilled,-in:.the.;art: will 1: know how; tomake :these: changesxiandrmodifi-ev cations of. :thef inventiomwithout:fUIftI'lEIi'iTillllS-i trationlor, description: a

The full .advantagesziofz :theztinvention; arezbest A:developediiwhensthe implementisasxdescribed Piss drawn; by :atractor;:havingcanrauxiliary power, draft mechanism as :described.Somerof :its;.ad.-J vantages 1' however may. the enjoyed: when:-. pro 1pelled by'la tractornot havinglamauxiliarygpower's draft .mechanism: orwhen-apropelled: byrdraftr animals; :3

' A modification:ofthe;implementeforzthisflnodezofaoperationzis:shownt:in.zFig;;5s "The 3 propelling draft; as. in:"the"; formrof rFigs. l, 2 and 3, is applied to the hitclrZL;Toielevate; and: adjust: :the depth of .lthe.irteeth foil ?the.implement, .the supplementaliframei I4 '15 toyrbe: rocked :byxhand by;an; operator standing; inifront of: the implement ands-to "facilitatethis, opera? tionz. by :"providing;:greater: leveragea thes abovedescribedz'posts'zfie eof; Figslxl to ;3.jare-.;ext.ended, fartheriupwardly; as-ltato 39A; .andathe: bridgingi; bar; here ll-A servesxasza handle-.57 The/latch tripping. cableghereiflA; isifflttachfidfgaliits vfor-- ward end i; to; the handler, to 2 be i: convenientlyreachedtbyytheioperatori 1 The. moderof operation otherwise :is, .thesame :as for: auxiliary'i-tractor power; a. As. ;will.nowsbeziapparenazmhe forward draft onxthe :supplementaln frames-I 4: asset; f 01th:?

inzthe appended claims;,describesceither the afore Wardsdraft byauxiliaryitractori power :orr'by; manualrpower. p s,

For the foregoing reasons, my invention is not limited to the details ofconstruction illustrated. Changes and modifications as referred to, andothers, may be made; and my invention comprehends all such changes andmodifications which come within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. In a tillage implement, a main frame; a pair of forwardly andrearwardly spaced gangs of rotary tools, extending transversely of theframe on fixed rotational axes, and rollingly supporting the frame forpropulsion over the soil, and for working the soil; a supplemental framesupporting a gang of supplemental soil working tools and having a hingeconnection with the main frame forwardly of the supplemental tools;mutually engaged stop means on the twoJframes -rearwardly of the hingeconnection to support the supplemental frame and its toolswiththetoolsina position of maximum soil-working; depth; a mainconnection onthe main frame by which it may be propelled by forwarddraft; a supplemental connection on the supplemental frameaboVethe hingeconnection by which thesupplementalframe and its tools may be ,rocked.bodily on the hinge connection to elevate the tools upon application offorward draft to the supplemental connection; and a pawl and ratchettype latch means for automatically latching the supplement frame indifferent selected elevated positions.

2. In a tillageimplement; a main frame; a pair of forwardlyandrearwardly spaced gangs of rotary .tools, extending. transversely of theframe on fixed rotational axes, and rollingly supporting the frame forpropulsion over the soil, and for working the soil; a supplemental framesupporting a gang of supplemental soil working tools and having a hingeconnection with themain frame forwardly of the supplemental tools;mutually engaged stop means on the two frames rearwardly of the hingeconnection to support the supplemental frame and its tools with thetools in a position of maximum soil-working depth; a main connection onthe main frame by which it may be propelled by forward draft; asupplemental connection on the supplemental frame above the hingeconnection by which the supplemental frame and its tools may be rockedbodily on the hinge connection to elevate the supplemental tools uponapplicationof forward draft to the supplemental connection; and a pawland ratchet type latch means for automatically latching the supplementframe in different selected elevated positions; and latch tripping meansextending forwardly and operable by. an operator forwardly of theimplement.

3. A tillage implement for. operation by a tractor of the type having aseat and a main draft hitch, and an auxiliary power draft hitch havinggenerally forward. and rearward movement; comprising: a main framehaving a forward connection to which the main draft hitch may beconnected; a gang of roller-elements on the 'ma-in frame for working thesoil and rollingly supporting the main frame and extending transverselyof the main frame and rotatable on fixed rotational axes; a gang ofsupplemental soil working tools; a supplemental frame on which thesupplemental tools are mounted; a pivot support on the main frameforwardly of the gang of supplemental tools, upon which thesupplementalframe may rotate to elevate the gang of supplemental toolsbodily as a unit with 8. respect to the soil depth positions thereof; aconnection extending'forwa'rdly from a point on the auxiliary frameabove the pivot to ,which the auxiliary draft hitch may be connected bywhich the auxiliary frame may be so rotated upon forward movement of theauxiliary draft hitch; latch means of the automatically engageable pawland ratchet type to support the auxiliary frame in selected elevatedposition upon cessation of forward auxiliary draft; means to trip thelatch extending forwardly and operable from the tractor seat to permitthe supplemental frame and tools to return downwardly bodily as a unit;stop means on the main frame and supplemental frame mutually engageableto support the supplemental frame rearwardly of the pivot support andstop downward movement of the supplemental tools, at a preselectedmaximum soil working depth.

4. A tillage implement comprising a main frame; forward and rearwardgangs of rollerelements for working the soil extending transversely ofthe frame and rotatable thereon on fixed axes and rollingly supportingthe main frame; a supplemental frame supporting a gang of soil workingtooth-elements between the gangs of roller elements and hinginglyconnected to the main frame forwardly of the tooth-elements; stop meanson the main and supplemental frames, mutually engageable to support thesupplemental frame against gravity rearwardly of the hinging axis, andto position the tooth-elements at maximum soil working depth; thesupplemental frame being hingingly movable to elevate the tooth-elementsbodily; a connection on a forward part of the main frame at which draftpower may be applied to propel the implement; a riser rigidlyconnectedto a forward portion of the supplemental frame to which forward draftpower may be applied to hingingly elevate the supplemental frame; a pawland ratchet type latch means at the) rear of the frame for automaticallylatching the supplemental frame in selected elevated positions, toadjust the soilworking depth of the tooth-elements and to clear themfrom the soil; a connection extending forwardly from the latch means bywhich it may be tripped to allow the supplemental frame to return bygravity to the said supported position.

' HAROLD R. McV'ICAR.

' REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date Re. 21,601 Buhr Oct. 22, 19401,041,684 'Shay Oct. 15, 1912 1,493,448 Krotz L May 6, 1924 2,198,864Degrelle Apr. 30, 1940

